Adrian Breitlauch (193-SG-1993) is a 31 year old 193cm guard playing his 7th season with the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven. He played 3 years in the easyCredit BBL with Bremerhaven. He also balled 2 seasons with the Artland Dragons and 4 years with the Itzehoe Eagles. He also had experience with TK Hannover and BSG Bermerhaven. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the big win against Nurnberg.
Thanks Adrian for talking to germanhoops.com. Congrats on the big 92-78 win over Nurnberg. How good did it feel sweeping the season series? Thank you. It felt really good. It was a big team win and we stuck together. It was a big win because our rest program is very difficult. This was a big step in the direction of the playoffs.
Bremerhaven had the slim 49-44 lead at the break. Jack Pagenkopf made it difficult for Bremerhaven to get away. What made it so difficult to contain him? He is very versatile and very dangerous from outside. His team did a good job getting him good looks. He is also a very talented individual player. But we knew that if we would find to our team game again in the second half that we would win.
Bremerhaven led 71-59 after 3 quarters. What adjustments did the team make? You finally found to your team basketball. Yes we did find back to our team basketball, but key was our defense. We heightened our intensity. We too often allow big runs again to the opponent to make the game exciting. We didn´t do that this time.
They made a run at the start of the fourth quarter, but the Eisbaeren closed out the game with a 20-8 run. Did the 6 straight free throws by you and Daniel Norl break their neck? How proud were you of the team character?
We showed super team character. We are young, but know to stick together in tough times. Different guys always step up. It can be anyone on our team.
You led all scorers with 21 points. You almost had a perfect game shooting 7/8. How happy with your efficiency? I wanted to go 8/8. But I´m not at all disappointed by that. It was a fun game to play. My teammates did a really good job finding me. And as usual when the first few go in, you get that good feeling that more will go in.
The team missed the playoffs last season and this season are a top 5 team. What have you enjoyed most about this season? I have enjoyed how coach Steve Esterkamp has put in new wind here. It is a relatively new team and we found harmony quickly. For us players, it isn´t only a job, but a commitment. We all push each other and everybody understands each other well.
What I think is so special this season is how well the team plays together. Could one give the team the middle name “Unselfish”? Yes it could be. Esterkamp has really helped us with that team focus. After games we will watch film and he will ask us how we rate a shot and then asks us if we can find a better shot. He holds us responsible and always wants us to look for the best shot.
The last 3 games are tough with Jena, Giessen and Hagen. You lost to Giessen and Jena. How is Bremerhaven a different team than 4 months ago? We grew as a team in the last months. We are a young team and have gone through lows, but we have become stronger. We are calmer now. We lost to Giessen and Jena at the end. The playoffs start for us now. We want to show what we are made of.
I saw a game in Koblenz and enjoyed the ball movement and unselfishness? How do you explain the development of that? It was a big focus for us from the start. It is a big challenge for the guards Miller, Hemschmeier, Norl and Biss to make the right decisions. But they have grown in their challenge to bring team basketball on the court.
This team has no super star. Is team the superstar? Yes that is exactly right.
How vital has head coach Steven Esterkamp been for the success? He had misfortune with Paderborn last season but this season has proven that he can rebound from adversary. What has been his biggest strength?
His biggest strength is that he has a clear vision and is a good communicator and tells us exactly what he wants. He is very strict is how we should execute
How much fun is it playing with Carlos Carter? Is he the ultimate Swiss army knife?
He can play everywhere and guard anyone. He has been a huge enrichment on the court and off the court he has been a lot of fun.
How talented is Peter Hemschemeier? Does he have easyCredit BBL potential? In his mindset he has no fear of anything on the court. He has a very creative game and very far for his age. It is hard to believe that he is already in his 5th pro season at age 21. He has BBL potential.
Who wins a 1-1 in practice you or Daniel Norl? I win, but the rest will say that he will win because he is more creative,
Kenan Reinhart (194-SG-2007) is a 18 year old 194cm guard playing his second season for the Dragons Rhondorf. Last season he averaged 3,7ppg in the Pro B for the Dragons and in the NBBL for Bonn averaged 17.1ppg, 4.0rpg, 2.5apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 41.5%, 3PT: 32.6%, FT: 85.4%, In the 2023-2024 season for the RheinStars he averaged 3,1ppg in the Pro B and 24.9ppg, 7.1rpg, 2.3apg, 1.9spg, FGP: 40.4%, 3PT: 31.4%, FT: 80.3% in the NBBL. He also played at the Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Germany (Unofficial World Championships U18) in 2024 averaging 6.5ppg, 2.3rpg and at the FIBA U17 World Cup in Istanbul (Turkey) -2024 averaging 4.0ppg. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball.
Thanks Kenan for talking to ghermanhoops.com. You just finished the 2023-2024 season and it was a heavy load with, AST, NBBL, Pro B and the World Cup U-17. How was the season for you mentally and physically? I feel strong! I love basketball and it’s fun. That always matter it easier no made how tough the struggle may be.
You played at the U-17 World Cup and Germany finished in 11th place. How did you summarize the tournament? I guess you can’t make excuses with some guys not being there?
It was a really good learning experience to see where we stand against the rest of the world. I felt like we were competitive. We always gave our best to stay with the opponent.
Germany had some loses to Turkey and France. Did these games show that there was a big difference in talent and class? I don’t think so. They had some really good players. We had already demonstrated in the preparation that we could stay with them.
What could you learn from games like these?
To always keep fighting and never give up. A game has 40 minutes and you should never give up early.
You averaged 4,0ppg at the World Cup U-17. How did you summarize your play? My three pointer didn’t fall well. I tried to help my team as best as I could and just give my best in the minutes that I got.
You also played at the AST. I remember watching a tough loss to Serbia and then an almost win against China. What were you able to take from the AST? We had a good mentality after the loss to Serbia and just looked ahead and prepared for the next team. We had no time to cry. We had a very young team. I felt we gave our best given the circumstances.
What is it like being coached from Dirk Bauermann. He is a legend and is lauded from his players for his work with the young players. What kind of a relationship do you have with him and how has he helped you most?
It was an hon0ur to play for a legend like that. I had a very good relationship with him. The most important thing that he taught me was mental toughness.
What has it been like being teammates with athletic Jervis Scheffs. Did anyone console him after missing key shots against China at the end? It was nobody’s fault. We win and lose as a team. We pushed each other in practice no matter what.
Let’s talk a little about your game. You’re a 194cm shooting guard. To what pro player have you heard comparisons from other people about how you play the game? I hear the name Andi Obst a lot and recently have heard Reed Shephard who recently was drafted. I’m shot dominated and play good defense. I give whatever the team needs.
You’re a great scorer and shooter. Are you more than just a 3 and D player? I needed to do more in the NBBL and showed it. I do whatever the coach asks of me, but being a 3 and D player is a strength of mine.
Dirk Bauermann said he wants you to become like Andi Obst. Do you follow his game and watch his videos? I watch a lot of his videos and his natural moves. I tried to copy his step back jumper for my game.
Your also a talented defender. What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of defender do you still want to become?
I feel like I’m a solid defender, But I know that if I want to play at a higher level, I will have to defend better. Stephan Baeck always stresses that you will stay on the court if you play good defense.
On what areas of your game are you working on most so you can continue to improve your game best?
My main focus now is on my body and to get more athletic. I’m also working on my mid range game and trying to incorporate a small floater into my game.
You were a member of the RheinStars Cologne. What was it like being part of this great organization? What did you appreciate most from the experience? We are like a family. I feel like I’m supported from everyone in the organization. You go into the gym and everyone knows you. If you have a good game, they congratulate you and after a bad game they push you.
You had a great NBBL season averaging 24/7/2/1 and played your last game in December. You concentrated more on the pro B. How do you summarize your NBBL season?
I had a successful season and was named rookie of the year. I’m really proud how far we went this season after not winning a game last season.
You made your Pro B debut at age 15 scoring 4 points against Wolmirstedt. What memories do you have of that game? It wasn’t sure before the game if I would play. I remember thinking on the bus that if I do get in, I won’t be afraid of no one and just play my game.
Last season you played in the Pro B averaging 3,0ppg in 9 minutes. How did your game grow? The biggest thing that grew was my self-confidence. I want to build off that season this year. Last season was important in that I was able to find myself in the league and understand what I had to do to be successful.
You had so many talented teammates in the Pro B. Which RheinStars Cologne player had the biggest influence on you. I think that the guys that played at my position with Bryan battle and Tim Lang had the biggest influence on me. They got more minutes and I always pushed myself to be better than them.
You reached the 2023 JBBL top 4. What kind of an experience was it playing there? You and Davi Remagen carried the team.
Davi is a good friend of mine. It was great playing in an atmosphere like that something we had never seen before. It was an unforgettable moment. It was the first JBBL top 4 in the RheinStars history.
How important has Zoran Kucic for your basketball development the last years’? How did he help you most?
Zoran has been very important in my career. I do a lot of individual training with him. He is always ready to train with me when I call him. He really believes in my game.
Why did you leave the RheinStars Cologne to come to the Dragons Rhondorf? Were there too many talented players in Cologne? I left Cologne because the Telekom Baskets are more professional as there are more chances to move up as a player.
What kind of an experience has it been playing for the Dragons Rhondorf? What do you like most of the experience? It has been a very educational experience especially with the coaching change and it is preparing me well for the life as a professional player. I like the atmosphere of the fans the most.
Your minutes have been consistent since the coaching change and before that up and down? What have been the reasons for you being more a part of the rotation? I think that I was able to prove I could play in the minutes that I got and always tried to help the team as much as possible in practice.
Who was the greatest player that you ever faced on the court? Andreas Seifert.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time? Ruppert Hennen, Bjoern Rohwar, Jannis Von Seckendorf, Davi Remagen, Ali Sow
Please name your personal NBA, Euro and German Mount Rushmore?
Kobe, Jordan, Lebron, Steph Curry Shane Larkin, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Milos Teodosic, Luka Doncic Kendrick Nunn, Dirk Nowitzki, Tibor Pleiss, Dennis Schroeder
Jake Biss (188-G-1998, college: Shippensburg) is a 26 year old 188cm guard from Latrobe, Pennsylvania playing his third professional season and second in Germany with the Eisbaeren Bremerhaven. Last season he played with Gartnezaun24 Baskets Paderborn averaging 11.7ppg, 3.1rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 44.4%, 3PT: 35.0%, FT: 77.4%. In his rookie season he played with he played with the Den Helder Suns (Holland-DBL) averaging 12.7ppg, 2.6rpg, 1.1apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 51.7%, 3PT: 32.6%, FT: 90.3% in the BNXT league. He began his basketball career at Greater Latrobe High School and then played at ShippensburgUniversity (NCAA2) from 2017-2022 amassing a total of 118 games. He spoke to eurobasket about basketball. germanhoops.com spoke to Jake about his basketball career not remembering that he had been interviewed a year ago. Many questions were similar so it´s interesting to see his answers.
Thanks Jake for talking to germanhoops.com Congrats on the big win over the EPG Guardians Koblenz. Do you feel like the team is on a good way going towards the playoffs? The team has won 5 of it´s last 7 games. Yes, I feel like we have some great momentum going into the last stretch of the regular season. We’ve been able to string together 5 wins out of the last 7 and will continue to build off those going into these last 4.
I saw that game in Koblenz and was really impressed with the extra pass. The team is totally unselfish. Was that unselfishness there from day 1 or did it grow with time? The unselfish play is something coach emphasized from day 1. I think it has gotten better since the start of the season when the chemistry is being built and roles are trying to get figured out, but we really focus on team basketball. Basketball isn’t an individual sport.
The Eisbaeren Bremerhaven are having a good season. What has been the secret to the success? I think this group we have really meshes well together and as I mentioned before, we play team basketball. There’s a trust between all of us and that really helps when we’re out there on the court, knowing we all got each other’s backs.
The team has no real stars, but 10 guys that average 7,0ppg or more. Have you ever seen this before in your career? Does everyone play for each other? I have never been on a team with this kind of dynamic, but I don’t see a problem with it at all. I think it helps more than it may hurt. We know that this is a team sport, and we are only as strong as our weakest link, and to be honest, if you look down the roster, I don’t see one weak link. We all bring different skill sets to this team and using them within coach’s system has been pretty successful thus far.
The team allows the second least points in the Pro A with 75 per game. What is the biggest strength on the defensive end that has allowed the team to have this special identity? I think it’s an effort thing. You go down the list of our games and you won’t find one where you could say the effort wasn’t there. The defensive schemes and principles we are taught are great but implementing that defense out on the court without any effort wouldn’t get us anywhere. When we take care of the little things on defense, we can be really tough to score on.
What has it been like being teammates with young German Peter Hemschmeier? How talented is he? He hit big three´s against Koblenz? I have nothing but good things to say about Peter. For his age he is really talented and we all can see that he’s got a lot of potential and another level he can reach. He did hit some big shots against Koblenz, especially late game which was huge for us. It’s been great playing with him, I think him and I play well together and know each other’s games pretty well.
The team has so many great players. Who would you call the team´s Swiss army knife? Possibly Carlos Carter?
Yeah, I think you could give Carlos that title. He can score at all three levels. He’s got those long arms and can really hound guys on defense and he plays above the rim which is great. I’ve never seen anyone be in the passing lane on defense and anticipating those passes for steals better than him. He’s a threat out there for sure Carlos is definitely our Swiss Army knife. He can guard positions 1-4. With his long arms, athleticism he’s able to get a lot of steals are guard some of the toughest players in the Pro A. Not to mention how offensively skilled he is. He is another player on this team whose ceiling is very high for their career.
You were already teammates with Carlos Carter for 4 years at Shippensburg. Is he like a brother for you? I had 4 years with Carlos in college and we grew up 40 minutes from each other, so we’ve had some battles in high school games as well. I can definitely call him one of my brothers for sure. He’s a great guy off the court and from knowing him so long we’ve really been able to build a great friendship and I’m extremely grateful that we’re able to play together halfway across the world from where we grew up.
You played for Steve Esterkamp last season in Paderborn. He must of felt some pressure after Paderborn went down. How has he grown and matured as a coach this season?
Whether he felt some pressure or not after last season, I don’t know. What I do know is that he knows the game of basketball extremely well and he can be successful in any situation he finds himself in. Compared to some other coaches I’ve had, he does a really good job at taking feedback from us (the team) and getting our perspective on things. He was a player once too and he knows the ins and outs of this lifestyle and is very considerate to the team and our thoughts on things.
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 188cm guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?
I’ve always tried to model my game after Devin Booker. He has such a sound game and is one of the most skilled guys in the world. I think he would fit the description best.
You have always been a scorer your whole career while being consistent. What do other strengths does your game have? I think I’m a really good defender and I think I can pass the ball and create opportunities for my teammates fairly well. My first year as a pro my role was to strictly shoot the ball, mainly threes. I’m glad coach saw that I can do much more than just that and I think I’ve been able to showcase my other skillsets this season.
You shot over 40% from outside twice at Shippensburg, but as a pro still seeking that 40% plateau. What do you feel is still missing to reaching that?
The game is just so much different over here and at this level compared to back when I was in college. I’m not trying to make excuses, but back in college I had the ultimate greenlight and could shoot just about any shot I liked. It’s much easier to shoot it at a higher percentage when you’re the main guy your team relies on to score the ball. Over here and at this level, shot selection is at a much higher importance, and when you’re on a team that has depth like we do, I’m not going to get the 12 to 15 shots a game like I was in college and that is fine, we have plenty offensive threats on this team. I just think shooting at a higher percentage here and at this level holds more weight than at the college level.
How has your defense grown this season? Bremerhaven gives up only 75 points per game and is one of the best defensive teams in the Pro A? I personally think my on ball defense has improved this season. Compared to the last two seasons I’m playing more physically on defense and can read actions better from the experience. But within the team the effort and trust factor is key in us holding teams to 75 points.
On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to climb the basketball ladder?
My shot and my decision making when coming off ball screens. I think executing these two things at a high level will help me climb that ladder for sure.
Last season you played with Gartenzaun24 Baskets Paderborn (Germany-ProA) averaging 11.7ppg, 3.1rpg, 1.8apg, FGP: 44.4%, 3PT: 35.0%, FT: 77.4%. How tough was it coming late to a sinking ship? You still held your own. What did you learn from this season?
It was tough for sure, and I tried to do everything I could to help turn things around in Paderborn. Joining a team halfway through the season comes with a load of challenges, but it was pretty easy to buy into coach’s system from the jump, which is part of the reason I came with him here to Bremerhaven. I think I simply learned more about the different style of play here in Europe compared to how I was playing my whole life in the U.S. I was able to adapt my game more to the European style and I think built on my leadership skills as well.
You had your best game against Nurnberg on the last game day scoring 28 points with 7 three´s. How tough was that loss despite playing well? That was definitely a heartbreaking loss. It would have been great to finish out the season with a win, especially for the fans that were great all season despite our poor record. Knowing that I could play like that in this league though sparked some interest in wanting to come back to this league for this current season.
You played your rookie season with the Den Helder Suns (Holland-DBL) averaging 12.7ppg, 2.6rpg, 1.1apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 51.7%, 3PT: 32.6%, FT: 90.3% in the BNXT league. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home? I knew I was far away from home as soon as I was getting driven from the Amsterdam airport to my apartment in Den Helder. The cars were different, seeing the Dutch language on billboards and business signs, etc. That was all eye opening for sure.
You played at Shippensburg University (NCAA2) from 2017-2022. You were really consistent with your game in your last 3 seasons. How did your game grow in those last years?
I think it started with confidence in myself. Once I had that, the game just started slowing down for me and I could really use my skillset to play in that conference at a high level.
You were teammates with the Sleva brothers. You only played one season with Dustin, but more seasons with Dom. What memories will you always have of them and who knows you may be teammates again overseas?
Dom is one of my closest friends to this day. He’s such a great guy and I’m grateful we were able to play against each other the first game of this season. He’s a friend for life and I’m really glad our paths crossed at Ship. And Dustin has been such a great role model from the jump my freshman year at Ship. He really paved the way for Dom and I and some other college teammates that are playing professionally and I’m truly grateful for the help and knowledge about this lifestyle that he has shared.
You had so many great games at Shippenburg including some 30 plus point games. What was your fondest moment there? This might surprise some people, but my favorite game from college was in the second round of the national tournament my freshman year against West Liberty. I think west Lib was ranked second in the whole country and we came out and beat them buy 20 plus. It was the best I’ve seen that team play all year and was able to be a small part of it scoring a few points.
How did Chris Fite groom and prepare you best for a professional career? Coach Fite instilled this confidence in me that I’ve never had before going into my sophomore year. He basically told me the keys to the car were mine and that he needed me to lead the way. It’s almost like he forced it onto me, and I just had to respond as best as I could. But knowing he had that trust in me really allowed me to play free and develop my game as best as I could.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Kyon Hardy?
Reading that made me laugh. I don’t think Kiyon and I ever played ones at Ship, but I know if we did it would be an extremely competitive game.
Who is the best player that you ever faced on a court that reached the NBA?
I played pick up a couple summers ago with Omari Spellman. He was about as dominant as you could think of. He would have to be the one.
Please name your 5 favorite teammates of all-time?
· Sean Graytok
· Dom Sleva
· Dustin Sleva
· Austin Butler
· John Castello
What is your personal NBA mount rushmore of past or present heads?
1. Jordan
2. Lebron
3. Kobe
4. Kareem
Who is your GOAT and why? Jordan just because of his mentality. It’s second to none.
Did you see the sequel to the classic coming to America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone?
Jake Biss (188-G-1998, college: Shippensburg) is a 25 year old 188cm guard from Latrobe, Pennsylvania playing his second professional season and first in Germany with the Gartnezaun24 Baskets Paderborn. Last season he played with the Den Helder Suns (Holland-DBL) averaging 12.7ppg, 2.6rpg, 1.1apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 51.7%, 3PT: 32.6%, FT: 90.3% in the BNXT league. He began his basketball career at Greater Latrobe High School and then played at ShippensburgUniversity (NCAA2) from 2017-2022 amassing a total of 118 games. He spoke to germanhoops.com about basketball in 2024 during his season with Paderborn
Thanks Jake for talking to germanhoops.com. Welcome to Germany and signing with Pro A team Paderborn. After a solid rookie season in Holland, you didn´t land a job until now. Did clubs in Europe underestimate your talent? No I don’t think they underestimated my talent, I had to get surgery on my ankle late in august and wasn’t back to good health until recently
Did you ever visit Germany in your rookie season? What do you know about the country Germany and it´s basketball?
I did not visit Germany in my rookie season, this is my first time in the country. Don’t know a whole lot about it either, but I do know I’m in a very talented and respected league.
Head coach Steve Esterkamp was very happy to find you. What kind of an impression did he leave you in the first talks?
Coach Esterkamp seemed very welcoming from the jump. He explained things to me bluntly and let me know he could use what I bring to the table.
Paderborn is struggling. Do you feel a little pressure having to step up right away and help the team win? I know the team and the fans have expectations with this club having the rich history it does, and I plan to help the club succeed in any way possible. I’m sure if I give this team all I got they’ll embrace and support me whatever the outcome may be.
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a player that can fill the stat sheet well. What kind of player will Germany see? I think Germany will see a player that’s consistent. I know coach Esterkamp will put me in the right situations that best suit me well and allow me to succeed the way I know I can
If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description?
I wouldn’t compare my game to Devin Booker, but he’s definitely who I try and mold my game after. I like getting to the midrange and shooting the ball at a high clip
You can fill the stat sheet well. How defined would you classify your versatility on the court? I see myself as a pretty versatile guard. I‘ve been a point guard my entire life up until last year where I got moved to the 2, but I really developed my shot last season and feel that I can make plays when needed or score the ball from all three levels.
What do you believe is a hidden strength in your game that is still a bit off the radar?
I think my defense is what a lot of people overlook. I may have to adjust to a few different strategies coach Esterkamp uses in his defense, but I’m confident I will adjust quickly and do well defensively.
What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of defender do you still want to become?
Like I mentioned I think I’m a solid defender. I’m not somebody that’s going to give you 4 steals a game, but I’m going to be solid all around and frustrate teams defensively
On what areas of your game are you working on most so you can continue to progress as a player?
This past summer I’ve really been working on my shot, especially off the dribble from 3. My mid range has always been my go to, but shooting a lot more three’s last season has developed my shot from distance and has made me want to expand even more in that direction.
Last season you played with the Den Helder Suns (Holland-DBL) averaging 12.7ppg, 2.6rpg, 1.1apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 51.7%, 3PT: 32.6%, FT: 90.3%. What do you remember being your wake up call to being a rookie overseas where you knew that you were far away from home? Outside of basketball I think just hearing people speak a different language and all the street signs and advertisements you see around the city being in a different langue. I was quick to notice all the cars being a little smaller too. Nothing crazy, but it definitely takes some adjusting to.
Head coach Peter Van Noord gave you a lot of freedom as a rookie. How do you feel did your game grow in your rookie season?
He did draw up a lot of looks for me in timeouts which I appreciated and throughout the season I feel like I learned how to play more aggressive, whether offensively or defensively
You played at Shippensburg University (NCAA2) from 2017-2022. What is your summary of your career there? You had ups and downs and was very consistent. What was your fondest moment there reaching the Sweet 16 or the PSAC final?
My time at Shippensburg was great. That’s where I figured out with the help of my coaches how to become a scorer. Reaching the sweet 16 my freshman year was a really cool moment and definitely one of my favorites. Especially learning from and being led that entire year by my teammate Dustin Sleva, who is having a great career playing in Europe.
In 2020-2021 the season was cancelled because of Covid. How do you remember this time? Were you an animal in the gym?
Not having a season in 20-21 was pretty rough for everyone. It was hard to even find gym’s that were open, but fortunately a family friend allowed me to use his gym during most of that time.
You had so many great games including numerous 30 plus point games. What was your best personal performance in the NCAA 2? My best performance was probably the first game of my junior season against Virginia Union. It set a great example for the rest of the season and helped build more confidence in myself and my team
How did head coach Chris Fite groom and preparer you best for a professional career?
Coach Fite did an outstanding job with me. After grooming me and helping me adjust to the college game my freshman year he basically game me the keys to the car and told me this was my team the following season. That alone filled me with a confidence I never knew I had. His trust in me is what really helped develop my game and led to a successful 4 seasons at Shippensburg.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Kyon Hardy? Hahaha I don’t know if Kiyon and I ever played 1’s in practice, but I’m sure they would be tight games if we did. Kiyon was a great player, super smart out on the court and an even better teammate.
Who was the toughest player that you ever faced in the NCAA that reached the NBA?
The only player I know I played against in college who ended up playing in the NBA was BJ Johnson from La Salle, the one D1 school who would play us. Other guys like Amir Hinton, Anthony Lee and Jacobo Diaz were always tough to play against too. The PSAC produces a lot of professional talent.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time? My top five teammates of all time are Sean Graytok, Reed Fenton, Austin Butler, Bryce Butler, Tim Kisick in no specific order
Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore? Current players NBA Mt. Rushmore is probably Joker, KD, DBook and Steph
Who is your GOAT and why?
I’m honestly not a big fan of the Goat debates. There’s too many stipulations like eras and stats and championships to ever get a good answer. If I have to pick probably Kobe. I just respect him as a person and his game more than any other player.
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone? I did not see the sequel to that movie unfortunately. I’m assuming it wasn’t as good as the first one lol
Sidney Brown (177-PG-1999, college: Albright) is a 25 year old 177cm point guard from New Jersey that just completed his first season overseas with SG MTV/BG Wolfenbuettel (Germany-Regionalliga) averaging 25/5/5/4. He began his basketball career with Winslow Township High School. He then played at Albright College (NCAA3) from 2017 to 2022 playing a total of 99 games and as a senior averaged 15.3ppg, 4.1rpg, 2.2apg, 2.2spg, FGP: 41.1%, 3PT: 37.4%, FT: 85.3%. He then got experience playing semi pro ball in the States with the Atlantic City Gambits (TBL), Albany Patroons (TBL) and Tri-State Admirals (TBL). He spoke to germanhoops.com after finishing his first season overseas in Germany.
You just completed your first pro season overseas with the SG MTV/BG Wolfenbuettel (Germany-Regionalliga). What kind of an overall experience was it for you? What did you enjoy most from it?
It was definitely a great experience, learning to be independent living on my own and providing for myself on a daily life scale, being able to travel on my own to different locations of Germany, and being accompanied by great teammates, staff, and fans made the entire season here warm and welcoming. I am glad to have been able to experience a great city.
It was a solid season for SG MTV/BG Wolfenbuettel (Germany-Regionalliga). The team began well winning 6 of it´s first 7 games. Then came a 6 game losing streak which turned the season around. What happened in that losing phase? We kind of lost our identity, losing two teammates who were crucial to our success, and just getting the new young guys accustomed to a new level of playing that they haven’t quite experienced yet.
The team then rebounded and had a 5 game winning streak and then lost 4 of 5 games to finish the season. What was your summary of the season? If we were able to keep our full team for the whole season we would have been able to crack the top 4 for sure, we had a great group of guys but losing important teammates and some games not everyone being able to play messes with the flow of the team. I’m sure the top 4 teams had the same roster throughout the season and for winning teams that’s crucial to have. Besides that the guys who were around had competed and played every game with all we had and left it out there on the court win or loss.
How much of a factor was age for the season? The team was very young? Was the team missing a few experienced guys? Yes, both our 4 men left in different parts of the season, one due to injury early in the season around October, and another for studying abroad in mid February. Missing those guys gave us a different look in size and experience, but this game waits for no one, the next guy just has to step up, But over time I do believe our young guys matured very well over the season and in the next steps of their careers I definitely feel you should look out for them because they will be making impacts wherever they play in the future.
You had a great first season overseas averaging 23/5/5/4. What was your personal summary of your season? I could have been better and I will be better, I don’t ever get complacent with myself. There is always a new level to acquire and I will strive to get there. As a primary ball handler and playmaker, my points and assists should be up way more in this league.
Let´s talk about your game. You’re a 177cm guard. If you had to compare your game to an NBA player who would best fit the description. You’re a player that can fill the stat sheet with ease. What is your biggest strength on the court?
It’s hard to compare to one person in the NBA, if I had to stay it’d be DeAaron Fox, mixed with some Kemba Walker offensively, and Jose Alvarado defensively. My coach compared me to TJ Shorts’ variant with just a better 3 point shot. I feel my biggest strength is my quickness and shooting skills. Every team plays full court man, so a lot of time the games are 5 versus 4 in my favor because as I was taught that man in front of me is already beat, it’s about reading what the other 4 people are doing and make the best read I can whether that’s shooting or creating for a teammate. And adding shooting with that quickness means you have to play me up so in most games defenses are at my mercy on the court.
You have always been a great three point shooter. This season you shot 37% in Germany. What is missing from becoming a 40% shooter? Taking more efficient 3 point shots. Understanding if I miss 2-3 three’s that it’s time to get below the 3 point line and get into my pull up, floater, or layup which I do just as well if not better than my 3 point shot.
You’re an aggressive and very ambitious defender. Do you feel that opponents underestimate you at times because of your height? No not at all, most times after a couple minutes guards usually pass the ball up to get it away from me which lets me know I am disrupting their flow of the game and makes me more hungry defensively, it’s been happening since high school.
You had 9 and 8 steals in a game this season. What kind of a defender are you now and what kind of defender do you still want to become? I am just a crafty defender, I know if someone is in a pivot and tries to play with the basketball in my face I am quick enough to swipe the ball away, or like Jose Alvarado getting the chase down sneaky steals. Now the next step is truly just understanding the flow of the game, especially in help defense, seeing what the opposing players are seeing and being one step ahead.
On what areas of your game are you working on most now so you can continue to grow as a player? To be a better rim finisher and attacking players bodies to draw fouls. Players with fouls play differently in foul trouble and if I can make players have to play conservative it becomes more in my favor.
It took you 2 seasons of grinding in the States to come overseas. How tough were these few years? Did you ever lose faith in the basketball process?
Those years were definitely the biggest test of my faith to achieve my dreams. I gave myself two years to make it overseas, and if I didn’t I would have given up and just got a regular job, so the timing of it all was really remarkable. Some nights I would just stay up thinking is all this hard work that I am putting in even worth it but my trainer and close friends and family told me to just keep at it, stick to my script and you will be rewarded for it and I am glad to say they were right.
How much of an issue has your height been for you your whole career? The chip has to be extremely enormous for you. How have you dealt with it on a daily basis?
The saying goes that guards come a dime a dozen and in my case for undersized guards like me those odds are multiplied by 100. There is a me in every city, or town wanting to be where I am or higher, and the question people tell me all the time is what will I do to be different to get there. The chip used to weigh me down for how heavy it was,but I began to understand that just being yourself is the key, and either they like you or they don’t. There is no faking who you are on this journey either the opportunity comes to you or it doesn’t, and that is life. This game doesn’t dictate your life and you shouldn’t give it the power to either.
You played for 3 TBL teams with Atlantic City Gambits , Albany Patroons and Tri-State Admirals. What memories do you have of these years? How big was the grind and how did it make you stronger? These were the toughest years mentally, not playing a lot if at all tested if I wanted to really do this but I never wanted to be a TBL player I wanted to be a overseas player. It was just an extra step to keep me in shape while I waited for my opportunity to come to leave. It did make me stronger playing with people who have been where I wanted to be and it showed me the next level.
You played at Albright (NCAA3) from 2017-2022. How did your game grow in these years?
My game grew tremendously, honestly because this was the first time that I had access to a gym and the more consistent I stayed in the gym the more my confidence grew, from my freshman year of not playing at all, to my sophomore year through my fifth year being a 4 year starter and being a big contributor to our teams success. It was a great experience to grow and be able to turn myself into more of the pro I always aim and inspire to be. The more I stayed in the gym my shot making abilities improved tremendously, and I have always been able to defend so it began to give me more of a bigger role as the years went on.
In 2021 you helped win the MAC title. What memories do you have of this run? It was a covid championship so it really was a different experience, having games with no one in the crowd. It felt like condensed open runs and definitely memorable because if someone were to have caught covid during those times, more likely than not your season was over. But everyone bought in for the limited games we had and through that we were able to come out on top.
How did Rick Ferry groom and prepare you best for a professional career?
He gave me the confidence to shoot without fear, not many shots I took did he really ever tell me were bad shots but that also came from him seeing me constantly in the gym and seeing that I was doing what it took to be better so I imagined it was just his way of rewarding me for my hard work put in.
Who won a 1-1 in practice you or Troy Smoot? Me and him would go back and forth, definitely had battles playing each other for sure.
Who the toughest player you battled that reached the NBA?
I played against Dejuan Wagner in open gym workouts, JR Smith in a summer league, and Precious Achiuwa in a high school showcase game..
Who are your 5 best teammates of all-time?
My 5 best teammates of all time I can say are my college teammates Samuel Majekodunmi, a true bucket getter, and DeLascio Dancy, a great floor general, Michael Cubbage, a great two way basketball player and pro who I played in high school with, and two of my Atlantic City Gambits teammates Frank Turner, a true point guard and well experienced overseas veteran who could break down any defense thrown at him and knew the game like the back of his hand, and Brandon Taylor a powerful 4-5 that could do literally anything he wanted on the court at all times throughout the game.
Please list your personal NBA Mount Rushmore? My NBA Mt Rushmore is LeBron James, Steph Curry, Michael Jordan, and Nikola Jokic
Who is your GOAT?
My GOAT is LeBron James, he is leaving his mark on this game unlike any other, and he is still playing better than most of the players in the league even at the age of 40, we will never witness anyone with the longevity and greatness of a career he has ever had.
Did you see the sequel to the classic Coming To America? Shouldn´t they have left it alone? No I did not, I have learned that outdated sequels are unnecessary, film directors just need to make new films and leave some masterpieces alone because it taints the legacy of movies in my opinion.
Sasu Salin (190-SG-1991) is a 33 year old 191cm guard from Finland playing his 18th professional season and first with U-Banca Transilvania Cluj Napoca (Romania-Liga Nationala). He began his career in his homeland with Tapiolan Honka. He then played 5 seasons with Union Olimpija Ljubljana (Slovenia-Telemach League). He then played in the ACB in Spain from 2015-2024 playing 5 seasons with Lenovo Tenerife, 2 seasons with Unicaja Malaga and 2 seasons with Iberostar Tenerife CB Canarias He has played 58 Euroleague games. He spoke to germanhoops.com before a Eurocup game against Lietkabelis.
Your playing for U-Banca Transilvania Cluj Napoca (Romania-Liga Nationala) this season. After 9 years in the ACB, you have a new challenge in Romania. What kind of an experience has it been playing for this historic club? Till now, It has been a very pleasant. I’ve felt very comfortable and my family as well spending our time in Cluj so we are very happy.
The club has won the last 4 league titles in a row and last 2 cups. You have won titles in various countries. How confident are you that you will win some more titles? Of course this club has the reputance to be always fighting for the titles so that is the mindset that players have as well. We want to win.
After being a role player in the ACB, it seems like that is continuing this season again. What exactly is your role this season?
My profile thru out my career has been defense, shooter and that´s what I´m also doing here. Just doing my best to help the team to succeed.
This team has a lot of experience especially with guys like Richard, Seeley and Stephens. Can a guy of your age still learn new things from guys like these?
Of course. Its great to see experienced players and just to see the passion what they have for the game. Trying to take little things from each one of them.
You played the last 5 seasons with Lenovo Tenerife and averaged 40% from outside in your last 3 years. Was this some of the best basketball that you played in the ACB?
Probably, I had a very clear role and the system was well put together. Of course playing with marcelinho was one key to my success as well.
You were teammates in those years with guys like Aaron Doornekamp and Marcelino Huertas. Did guys like that become like brothers for you? After spending so many years together yes, kind of. Families were having great time on and off the court.
You were teammates the whole time also with Giorgi Shermadini there and in Malaga. What is your coolest story with him over the years?
Yeah me and Gio go ways back. Actually already in Ljubljana we played 1season together. Me and many guys know him as a Khachapuri man. We had a rule in Tenerife that if you are a mvp of the round or competiotion, u have to bring food for everyone. So pretty often he brought that delicious Georgian food.
You played 2 seasons with Unicaja Malaga. You were teammates with Brian Roberts after he returned from the NBA back to Europe. How special of a point guard was he? Does one still see this type of point guards overseas?
He was really good obviously. Spending time in Nba and euroleague tell about his talent. Maybe Yago has some same kind of style in his game.
You played your first 2 seasons in the ACB with Herbalife Gran Canaria. You were teammates with Royce O´Neal who averaged 7/5 in that season. 2 years later he reached the NBA and is still there. What was so special about his game? Royce was a great athlete and good defender. He also was a threat on offense. But I think for reaching the NBA level he understood that he wont be the main offensive guy and now we see, he is doing a great job.
In your first season you were coached by the legend Aito. How vital was it having a guy like that as coach in the ACB in your first year? How did he help your game most then? Aito, great coach. Easy to approach and easy to talk about everything. He made you feel good of yourself and your role so your confidence was always high. He trusts his players a lot.
In 3 years in the ACB you played 6 times against Luka Doncic and lost each time. What memories do you have of him. Would you have thought from his game then, that he would become a top 3 player in the world? Yeah, no surprise there Luka was awesome. Just watching him always first, you might get the idea that he is not the fastest, most athletic etc but when he started to play basketball, he was phenomenal.
Did you ever have to guard him? Do you remember him making a wow play in one of the games? I guarded him yes, he had a size advantage so he took me to post couple of times. No, not one thing but he just made the game look easy.
After starting your pro career in your homeland, you were 5 years with Union Olimpija Ljubljana (Slovenia-Telemach League) from 2010-2015. How vital were these years for your basketball development. What kind of a player did you become there? I feel like Ljubljana was the perfect place to start. A lot of work, practices etc but as a young guy that was exactly what I needed. There I realized that with defense I can make a difference. Shooting will always be there but I started to think more on my defense.
In your second season you had the luck to be teammates with the great NBA player Danny Green who was overseas because of the NBA lockout. What memories do you have of him? Danny came because of the lockout in the NBA Great guy, I think everyone liked him a lot. He was a very talented basketball player. Wish he could have stayed the whole season.
How do you remember your time with fellow young shooting guard Klemin Prepelic and the battles you had? You guys must of really pushed each other to the limit? Yeah since times in Slovenia already we played against each other. Amazing shooter, smart too. Happy for the career he has made.
In those first years in the Euroleague you played against so many legends like Holden and Langdon of CSKA or Rubio and Alan Anderson of Barca or Fotsis and Diamantidis of Panathinaikos and many more. Was there a player that you were most in awe then as a kid and then suddenly seeing him on the court?
Navarro was probably one of those, but of course all the ones you named too but Navarro was more special for me
You began your career with Honka Espoo Playboys (Korisliiga). What memories do you have of those early years? Was there a coach or mentor that was really vital for your very early basketball development? In Honka I was lucky to have great coaches yes. Mihailo Pavicevic, helped me to understand already the Balkan basketball that helped me for sure in Ljubljana as well. Gordon Herbert, great coach and Jussi Syrjänen, who was with us in juniors and 2nd division in men.
You were teammates with a great player with Jukka Matinen who I covered early in my career in Frankfurt. What memories do you have of him? Was he like a mentor for you? Jukka, great shooter and a hard working big guy. Helped me in my early years in Honka and national team. Good dude.
You played at the 2014 World Cup losing to USA 114-55. You played 18 minutes scoring 0 points. What memories do you have of that game. You played against Kyrie Irving, Steph Curry, James Harden, Anthony Davis just to name a few. What could you take from that experience? Haha yeah, usa was tough but great experience. I remember I made a layup and hit the 24sec clock
You lost to Germany at the 2023 World Cup scoring 6 points. Do you see Germany being the favorite at the 2025 European Championships despite having a new coach? Germany has a very good team. So for sure they will be high on the standings. But I wouldn´t say they are the favorite to win it all.
Who were some of the best players that you battled in the ACB that reached the NBA? Doncic, easy answer.
Please name your 5 best teammates of all-time? Marcelinho Huertas, Luka Rupnik, Gio Shermadini, Anzejs Pasecniks, Teemu Rannikko and Emir Sulejmanovic
Please name your NBA Mount Rushmore? Lebron, Kobe, MJ, KD, Shaq
It was do or die time in Frankfurt. That happened because ratiopharm Ulm struck back in game 2 winning 83-78. Despite a big Frankfurt comeback, Ratiopharm Ulm showed great team play and endurance in the last 10 minutes and got an explosive game by raw big man Endurance Aiyamenkhue with 14 points and 19 rebounds. There is nothing more spetacular than a do or die game in any sport. Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners had to do a better job on the boards in game 3 and show that hustle and fight of game 1 in order to move on. Eintracht Frankfurt had more difficulty on the boards than in game 2, but it was actually the explosive first quarter that ended their season 76-59 as they couldn´t recover from it as they won the last 3 quarters 49-48, but couldn´t get over the hump as that one own massive run eluded them. “They were the better team from the start. I felt like our focus was good, but they were better than us both mentally and physically. They overpowered us from the start especially in the post up and rebounding. We never gave up and fought until the end. The next days will be very hard accepting that our season is over”, stressed Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliner guard Namori Omog. Ratiopharm did a great job coming into the game being the aggressor and set the punches early and played tough defense from the start stifling the Frankfurt drive to the rim. “Congrats to my team. We played with courage and very adult like. But I also give a lot of respect to Frankfurt and how they fought to the end. Key defensively was keeping control of Omog and Edoka and finding to our game early”, stressed ratiopharm Ulm head coach Florian Flabb. Omog did sparkle with 20 points, but Edoka only mustered 7 points on 3/13 shooting.
Jamie Edoka at the FT line
It was do or die in Frankfurt and ratiopharm Ulm knew better than Frankfurt just how high the stakes were. They didn´t waste anytime throwing the punches and began with that massive run that would allow them to have that comfortable lead until the end and never looked back. The guests began scoring quickly as the game was 6-0, 9-2 and before anyone really had understood what had happened, Frankfurt was looking up from a deep hole down 14-2. The trek up the steep hill kept getting steeper as suddenly ratiopharm Ulm led 19-4. In the run, ratiopharm Ulm was displaying a keen touch and combination of team basketball and incredible individual qualities that would give Frankfurt problems all afternoon long. The guests found their touch instantly dropping 4 three´s as Young Croatian Niko Jerkic (197-F-2007) connected twice, as did Swiss army knife Joel Cwik and Danish youth national player Frederik Erichsen. Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners had a big problem finding a rhythm as their ball movement was average and they couldn´t get to the rim as easily as they were used to. Plus Dutch big man Endurance Aiyamenkhue was like a brick wall in the paint and didn´t give Frankfurt anything easy. The Frankfurt big 3 of Crnjac, Edoka and Omog weren´t getting easy looks. Crnjac did give Frankfurt 5 points, but overall shots weren´t falling regularly as they were only 4/17 after 10 minutes. German Jordan Mueller connected for a trey at the end and ratiopharm Ulm had the staggering 28-10 advantage after one quarter. “We couldn´t find a rhythm and they did a good job packing the pant. Ulm played solid 1-1 defense and Frankfurt got nothing easy”, stated Skyliner Junior Florian Dietrich. “We were unsure and began very slowly while Ulm hit shots”, stated Raphael Edward. Ratiopharm Ulm shot 59% from the field and 63% from outside and had 14 rebounds and 3 turnovers while Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners shot 24% from the field and 14% from outside and had 7 rebounds and 2 turnovers. “We played with a lot of energy and were well prepared”, commented Niko Jerkic.
Jordan Mueller from outside
In the second quarter Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners began well, but just couldn´t take that early momentum and manufacture it into a bigger run as ratiopharm Ulm executed well on offense and led by 21 points at half-time. Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners began with better energy than the first quarter and received back to back lay in´s by Maximillian Peters and Namori Omog to trail 30-15. However Frankfurt just couldn´t find consistency at both ends. They gave up a 10-2 run to Ulm and trailed 39-17. A big plus for Ulm head coach Florian Flabb was his bench as their depth was a big advantage over what Frankfurt had to offer. Young German Milo Murray came off the bench and instantly hit a trey. Cwik and Aiyamenkhue also added lay in´s as Frankfurt couldn´t match their physicality and at times athleticism. Frankfurt just didn´t execute regularly which kept them behind. Ivan Crnjac had good moments as he manufactured 5 points and undersized big man Raphael Edward added another basket. He was a huge force on defense especially in the second half and finished with 4/5 and 4 steals in 22 minutes. “He is always in good spirits. He is so vocal and such a fighter. He gives so much energy and is like a mini hulk. He does so many key things not seen on the stat sheet”, warned Florian Dietrich. Ratiopharm Ulm got some key lay in´s from Erichsen and solid role player Jonas Zilinskas, but what really hurt Frankfurt was fouling Jervis Scheffs with 0,6 seconds behind the three point line. He made all 3 as Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners trailed 47-26 at half-time. “We kept fighting, but just couldn´t go on a big run. Frankfurt´s body language was better. It is never easy to come back when your down so much especially against a strong team like Ulm”, added Florian Dietrich. Ratiopharm Ulm shot 44% from the field and 43% from the three point line and had 30 rebounds and 7 turnovers while Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners shot 28% from the field and 15% from the three point line and had 16 rebounds and 5 turnovers.
Raphael Edward with the runner
In the third quarter both teams kept punching back and forth as the guests won the quarter 19-18 as the big damage of the first quarter continued to haunt Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners. Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners came out refreshed and quickly dealt ratiopharm a blow with a rapid 6-1 run to trail only 48-33. In the run, the athletic players Omog, Messer and Edoka all found their spots and made lay in´s. But that little Frankfurt spurt was quickly erased as ratiopharm Ulm stepped it up again and did what Frankfurt couldn´t do which was go on a bigger run. Ulm slapped a 12-3 run in Frankfurt´s faces and once again they were looking up a steep road down 60-36. In the run the guests played excellent team ball as many guys shared in the success as Aiyamenkhue scored twice and swatted away a ball while Cwik added another trey and Scheffs added a 20 footer. In the last minutes Frankfurt got 5 points from Omog and a clutch three pointer from role player Finley Pruever, but Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners still had the giant deficit of 23 points. Jerkic also added a turn around shot finishing with 20 points leading his team in scoring and showed again that he is such a vital player for Ulm. “He is a 3 level scorer that gives us a lot of advantages when posting up. He is a hard worker and also very important on the defensive end”, stated Florian Flabb. Ratiopharm Ulm shot 45% from the field and 37% from the parking lot and had 41 rebounds and 14 turnovers while Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners shot 33% from the field and 22% from the parking lot and had 22 rebounds and 10 turnovers. “Ulm was prepared very well. There was simply too much trading of baskets instead of us going on a run”, commented Namori Omog. “We continued to keep our energy up and Endurance closed up the paint areas”, stated Niko Jerkic.
Niko Jerkic at the FT line
Even if Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners ended their season against ratiopharm Ulm, they did finish the game strong winning the fourth quarter 15-10. Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners didn´t want to end their season hanging their heads, but really gave all they had led by Raphael Edward who was a defensive stopper. Edward led the charge with 2 steals, extreme hustle and keeping the Frankfurt intensity high which led to 6 stops against Ulm in the first minutes. Unfortunately for Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners only one bucket and free throws from Omog came in this phase as ratiopharm Ulm led 66-48. Aiyamenkhue finally got Ulm on the scoreboard at the 5,37 minute mark with a lay in. After a Crnjak runner, Aiyamenkhue scored again in the paint as Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners trailed 70-50. Down the stretch, Ivan Crnjac added 6 points, but time was running out and the deficit just never got any less. Jordan Mueller dropped another trey while Namori Omog scored Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners last basket of the season with a lay in. “I think one saw that we had our chances in the last quarter. They weren´t unbeatable. I feel like we could of achieved more, but just didn´t use our chances better”, said Namori Omog. “We managed the big lead well and just kept fighting on defense until the end”, said Niko Jerkic. Ratiopharm Ulm was led by Niko Jerkic with 20 points while Frederik Erichsen and Endurance Aiyamenkhue added 12 points a piece while Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners was led by Namori Omog with 20 points while Ivan Crnjac had 19 points. Ratiopharm Ulm shot 46% from the field and 35% from outside and had 49 rebounds and 24 turnovers while Eintracht Frankfurt Skyliners shot 33% from the field and 22% from outside and had 28 rebounds and 15 turnovers.
Miles Schmidt-Scheuber and Tim Smith Jr in the Dragon Dome in 2024
Tim Smith Jr. (201-F-2000, college: N.Alabama, agency: 011 Sports) is a 24 year old 201cm forward playing his first season overseas with the Dragons Rhondorf. He began his basketball career at Lakewood high school and then played at 3 Universities. He began at California University of Pennsylvania (NCAA2) averaging 8.9ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.0apg, FGP: 45.6%, 3PT: 30.3%, FT: 88.9%. He then played 2 seasons at Walsh University (NCAA2) averaging 10.9ppg, 5.4rpg, 1.2apg, FGP: 45.1%, 3PT: 37.5%, FT: 72.1% and 16.1ppg, 7.8rpg, 1.1apg, FGP: 48.1%, 3PT: 34.4%, FT: 87.1%. He then finished at the University of North Alabama (NCAA) averaging 9.4ppg, 4.7rpg, FGP: 48.9%, 3PT: 44.4%, FT: 79.2%. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the big win 94-72 win in Frankfurt
Congrats Tim on the big 94-72 win in Frankfurt. It was the first win in club history in Frankfurt. How good does it feel to achieve this? It feels amazing. We knew coming in that this was a big moment for the club, and to be the first team in history to win in Frankfurt is special. We came in locked in, played together, and executed the game plan really well. It’s a great feeling to make history with this group.
How big was the revenge factor after losing the last 3 times to Frankfurt and on a Trevian Bell buzzer beater last season in Frankfurt? The first loss in Rhondorf was tough a game that the Dragons should of won.
We wanted to come in and make a statement, not just for ourselves but for the club and the fans who’ve supported us through those tough losses.
How big was this win for the team. Coming off a tough loss at home against Leitershofen last weekend. The team seemed 100% prepared.
It was huge. After the Leitershofen loss, we knew we had to respond the right way. We had a strong week of preparation, focused on tightening things up on both ends, and came in ready to execute. Everyone was locked in from the start, and that showed in how we controlled the game. This win gives us a lot of confidence moving forward.
Frankfurt Skyliner Junior Jamie Edoka said after the game that they weren´t ready to face the Dragons and not on the same page. Did the Dragons want it more than Frankfurt?
I think we definitely came in with a stronger mindset. We had something to prove, and from the beginning, you could see the energy and intensity we played with. Every guy on the team was locked in and ready to compete, and I think that showed in how we took control of the game early and never let up.
The Dragons Rhondorf took control of the game from the second quarter onward and just managed the lead well. What did the Dragons Rhondorf do better on the defensive end to begin getting more consecutive stops?
We really tightened up our rotations and played more physical on defense. In the first quarter, they got some easy looks, but after that, we made adjustments, communicated better, and forced them into tougher shots. We also controlled the boards and limited their second-chance opportunities, which helped us get out in transition and build the lead.
In the second half, the offense continued to be very consistent. Has anything changed with how the offense works better now under new head coach Marko Zarkovic? Yes, there’s definitely been a shift. Coach Zarkovic has emphasized playing with better spacing and making quicker reads. He’s simplified our offensive sets in a way that allows us to play more freely while still being disciplined. The biggest difference is how we are attacking—there’s a clearer structure but also a focus on trusting instincts and moving the ball efficiently.
The team allowed only 72 points and gives up 89 points per game this season. What has Marko Zarkovic changed up or made adjustments that have allowed the team to not only keep flying around on the court but also grab rebounds better?
The biggest change has been defensive accountability. Coach Zarkovic has emphasized a more aggressive approach on defense while making sure we’re finishing plays by securing rebounds. We’ve focused more on positioning, communication, and making sure every guy is engaged in boxing out. He also made some adjustments to our rotations, making sure we have fresh legs at key moments to sustain our defensive intensity.
What have you enjoyed most about the coaching philosophy of Marko Zarkovic in the few weeks that you have known him?
I really like his energy and attention to detail. He holds everyone accountable, but at the same time, he gives us confidence. He wants us to play aggressive, fast-paced basketball, but in a smart and controlled way. His communication is also great—he’s clear about expectations and what he wants from each player.
You next play Coburg, who you beat in a grind-out game 62-58. This is another do-or-die game for the Dragons. Yeah, this is a huge game for us. Coburg is a tough team, and we know they’ll come in hungry for revenge after that last game. At this point in the season, every game is critical, and we have to approach it with the same intensity and focus we had against Frankfurt.
Kelvin Omojola stated after the game that the biggest strength of the Dragons Rhondorf was consistency and team. Is the team now 100% aware of how vital these last games are for the playoffs?
Absolutely. Every guy in the locker room knows what’s at stake. The mindset is clear—there’s no room for slip-ups. We have to bring it every game and stay locked in as a unit. The way we’ve been playing lately shows that we understand the urgency.
What was your impression of Jamie Edoka? He just turned 17 and is a starter in the Pro B. Could he be the next Isaac Bonga for Frankfurt?
Jamie is a talented young player. For someone his age, he already has a strong presence on the court and plays with confidence. He’s got good length, athleticism, and instincts, and if he keeps developing at this rate, I think he definitely has the potential to make a big jump in his career.
What was your impression of Malik Kordel? He has played between 40-50 pro games and destroyed the Dragons in the first game with a 16/21 game. He has offers from Michigan, Butler, and Villanova. How talented is he?
Malik is a special talent. He’s got great footwork, a strong frame, and a natural scoring ability that makes him tough to guard. His efficiency speaks for itself, and he’s only going to get better. You can see why he has those high-level college offers, he has the tools to be an elite player at the next level.
How big has Danas Kazakevicius been in the last months? Can one say that consistency has really rubbed off on him now? Danas has been huge for us. He’s stepped up in big moments and has really found his rhythm. You can see the confidence he’s playing with now—he’s making smart decisions, and being a steady presence on both ends. His consistency has been a big factor in our recent success.
Janne Müller had another great game and was the top scorer. He averaged 8.0 PPG last season and 13.6 PPG this season. Will this be his last Pro B season as he will be a full BBL player next season? I can imagine one has to enjoy every Pro B game now.
Janne has taken a big leap this season, and it’s been great to see his growth. He’s proven that he’s ready for the next level, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him playing in the BBL next season. For now, we’re just enjoying having him on the team and making the most of every game together.
Kenan Reinhart also has developed well in the last 6 weeks. He had a great start in Frankfurt, but why did he only play 13 minutes? Kenan has been playing really well, but it was just a matter of matchups and rotations in this game. Coach made adjustments based on what was working, and we had other guys stepping up too. It wasn’t about his performance, just about the flow of the game.
Marko Rosic had a tough stretch before the Leitershofen game but has since been great. Has he benefited from the new coach? I mean if I’m being honest I didn’t know he had a tough stretch, he comes to practice everyday and works his butt off and he gives everything he has to the team and I think he’s just playing with more confidence and we need that to make a push.
He really stepped up in the last 2 games and put Kelvin Omojola a bit in the shadow. How important is that competitiveness in a team at a stage like now, both for him and Kelvin? Competition within the team is always a good thing. It pushes everyone to be better, and at this stage of the season, we need guys stepping up. Marko playing at a high level doesn’t take anything away from Kelvin, it just makes us deeper and stronger as a team.
Kelvin Omojola had a tough game against Leitershofen with 5 turnovers and 4 in the first quarter. You sparkle with actions, but did you give him some vocal support after his tough first quarter? Of course. Everyone has tough stretches, and as teammates, we’ve got to pick each other up. I just reminded him to stay aggressive and trust his game. He’s a leader for us, and we all believe in him, so it was just about helping him reset and move forward.
How important has the leadership been of Kelvin Omojola? What have you liked most about his game? Kelvin’s leadership has been crucial. He’s vocal, he sets the tone, and he keeps us organized on the floor. What I like most about his game is his ability to control the tempo and make plays for others. He’s a true floor general, and that’s something every team needs.
Let’s talk about your game. You destroyed Pro B competition in the first 7 games, and then a dramatic fall in production came. Why did that happen, and did the mental part affect your game after that? Early on, I was in a great rhythm, playing with confidence, and everything was flowing. Then teams started adjusting, I was getting different defensive looks, and I had to adapt. I probably overthought things at times instead of just playing my game. It’s a learning process, and I’m using it as motivation to keep growing. To me basketball isn’t about how many points you score but how you impact the game I think I impact the game on all sides and provide more impact than just putting the ball though the hoop.
The coaching change came and you put up the big goose egg in Speyer. There were rumors that you and Marko Zarkovic had a falling out. Was that true?
I think it’s a combination of a lot of things, I’m learning and growing as a player I believe I provide more value to a game then just scoring. The more I focus on just being a good teammate and trying to win the better I will play and the team will play. And that’s not true at all, we had a conversation after the game basically about what I need to do better to contribute to the team winning games other than that I think we have had a good relationship in the short time I’ve known him.
Since that game your back playing very well averaging 18 points and 6 rebounds. Do you feel like you will be able to step up your game even higher so the Dragons reach the playoffs?
I’m putting in the work everyday to be the best player for the team that I can and I’ll do everything within my abilities to help us reach the playoffs.
You had 5 blocks in the last 2 games and the most in a 2 game span this season. Has it been more due to effort or understanding the players better the second time around?
Probably effort, like I stated before I do more than just score the ball so I’ve been trying to focus on impacting the game in other ways so that I get in the flow of the game.
What is your biggest personal goal now in the last games besides giving all you have for the team?
My biggest goal now is to control what I can control, go out every night and put on show for the wonderful fans we have and try and make a run.
Were the Dallas Mavericks jinxed this season? Dante Exum is out with a broken hand. They currently only have 8 players. How crazy is that?
Yeah, Dante Exum’s broken hand adds to an already insane injury list. They’re down to just eight available players, and with key guys like Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, and Dereck Lively II out, it’s starting to feel like they’re cursed. If things get worse, they might not even meet the NBA’s minimum roster requirements.
Kelvin Omojola (183-G-1997, college: Northwest) is a 27year old 183cm point guard that is playing his fourth professional season and fourth in Germany and second with the Dragons Rhondorf helping them win the pro B title last season averaging 12.7ppg, 3.1rpg, Assists-2 (6.1apg), 1.6spg, FGP: 49.4%, 3PT: 30.5%, FT: 79.5%. In 2022-2023 he played with PS Karlsruhe (Pro A) averaging 3,1ppg and as a rookie played with the Ahorn Camp BIS Baskets Speyer (Germany-ProB) averaging 15.3ppg, 2.7rpg, 3.3apg, 1.7spg, FGP: 43.4%, 3PT: 37.3%, FT: 71.8%. He began his basketball career at Green Valley high school and then played at Red Deer (JUCO), Benedict College (NCAA2) averaging 9.1ppg, 2.1rpg, 1.2apg, 1.0spg, FGP: 38.6%, 3PT: 33.0%, FT: 66.7% and Northwest University (NAIA) averaging 7.4ppg, 1.9rpg, 1.7apg, FGP: 36.4%, 3PT: 36.1%, FT: 62.1% and 13.7ppg, 4.7rpg, 3.2apg, 1.3spg, FGP: 55.4%, 3PT: 54.2%, FT: 87.5%. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the massive 94-72 win in Frankfurt.
Congrats Kelvin on the big 94-72 win in Frankfurt. It was the first win in club history in Frankfurt. How good does it feel to achieve this?
It feels great Miles to make some history! Frankfurt is a tough place to play because every time I’ve played here, Frankfurt always shoots the ball well and plays at a high level. So it’s great to get this win.
How big was the revenge factor after losing the last 3 times to Frankfurt and on a Trevian Bell buzzer beater last season in Frankfurt? Oh man the game winner last year hurt! The full court football pass and Trevian hitting the game winner over 2 people was crazy. But I’m glad we were able to win yesterday and this being my first win in Frankfurt in my career!
How big was this win for the team. Coming off a tough loss at home against Leitershofen last weekend. The team seemed 100% prepared.
It was huge Miles. We’re focused on getting into the playoffs by any means. We know every game matters and we need to get these wins. We were focused and ready to go.
Frankfurt Skyliner Junior Jamie Edoka said after the game that they weren’t ready to face the Dragons and not on the same page. Did the Dragons want it more than Frankfurt?
I would agree with that. On our end, we were communicating at a high level, playing great team defense, rebounding great, and moving the ball offensively. While on Frankfurt’s end, we did notice that they made some mental mistakes and had some defensive breakdowns. But still, they’re a tough team to beat because they have so many players that can hurt you.
The Dragons Rhondorf took control of the game from the second quarter onward and just managed the lead well. What did the Dragons Rhondorf do better on the defensive end to begin getting more consecutive stops?
We managed to get Frankfurt to take tough shots and not allow them to get any easy buckets. No dunks or moment plays so we were able to control the pace. Those moment plays can easily make the game get out of hand, so by us eliminating those it propelled us to keep playing our game.
In the second half the offense continued to be very consistent. Has anything changed with how the offensive works better now under new head coach Marko Zarkovic? Yes, Coach Marko preaches ball sharing and player movement. He doesn’t want anyone playing hero ball, and it works for both offense and defense. Since he’s taken over, our defense has improved and our movement on offense has improved as well.
The team allowed only 72 points and gives up 89 points per game in this season. What did Marko Zarkovic changed up or made adjustments that has allowed the team to not only keep flying around on the court, but also grab rebounds better?
He holds everyone accountable but he’s not unreasonable with what he’s asking. So it’s very easy to play harder, smarter, together, etc. We know what our goal is (making the playoffs) so we know we have to play and act like a playoff team.
What have you enjoyed most about the coaching philosophy of Marko Zarkovic in the few weeks that you have known him?
Just his approach to the game. He has a lot of qualities that I share as well. Qualities from holding people accountable, playing together, playing smart, and his demeanor on and off the court. He’s serious on the court when he needs to be, but he’s also extremely likable and light hearted. It’s a great balance.
You next play Coburg who you beat in a grind out game 62-58. This is another do or die game for the Dragons.
Yes, we need this win Miles. 4 games left in the regular season, we need every win. We’re battling with them for playoff position so this game is of the upmost importance.
You stated the biggest strength of the Dragons Rhondorf was consistency and team? Is the team now 100% aware how vital these last games are for the playoffs? Yes, we know how important these games are. We’re not taking any of them for granted and know what we have to do.
What was your impression of Jamie Edoka? He just turned 17 and is a starter in the Pro B. Could he be the next Isaac Bonga for Frankfurt? He’s a nice young talent! He plays older than 17 which is a huge compliment, he has a ton of upside for sure.
What was your impression of Malik Kordel? He has played between 40-50 pro games and destroyed the Dragons in the first game with a 16/21 game. He has offers from Michigan, Butler and Villanova. How talented is he? Yeah he’s another great young talent. It’s no surprise he has those high major D1 offers. He has high major size and athleticism, if he continues to improve his game and keep the work ethic, there’s no reason why he can’t get to the NBA.
Tim Smith Jr had another great game with 17/5/3 game and 2 blocks. He had some growing pains this season, but seems to be back to his old dominant self. Did you have some talks with him? He seems stable mentally again? Yeah Tim and I talked a lot actually! We had some heart to heart conversations, been hanging out even more off the court. I think he’s doing better as well. I’m proud of Tim, he’s a great player and an even better person.
How big has Danas Kazakevicius been in the last months? Can one say that consistency has really rubbed off on him now? He’s been improving all season, I’m proud of Danas! We need him for us to be at our best.
Janne Muller had another great game and was top scorer. He averaged 8,0ppg last season and 13,6ppg this season. Will this be his last pro B season as he will be a full BBL player next season? I can imagine one has to enjoy every Pro B game now? I’m not sure Miles. I know Janne has a lot of talent and if this is his last ProB season I wouldn’t be surprised!
Kenan Reinhart also has developed well in the last 6 weeks. He had a great start in Frankfurt, but why did he only play 13 minutes?
Yes he has, Kenan is improving everyday. He’s another really good young talent. As for the Frankfurt game, I’m not sure. We have a lot of talented guys on the roster and it’s tough to get a lot minutes. I think the only one who consistently gets high minutes is Tim. So it’s just a matter of making the most of your opportunities while you’re out there.
Marko Rosic had a tough stretch before the Leitershofen game but since been great. Has he benefited from the new coach?
Yeah Marko has, but it has nothing to due with the coaching change. He’s a great player and he can make plays and control the game any time he wants.
He really stepped up in the last 2 games and put you a bit in the shadow. How important was that competitiveness in a team in a stage like now both for him and you? Oh it’s huge, I love when Marko does well and balls out in the game. We push each other in practice and he knows I support him and have his back 1000%. I’m sure he feels the same way about me.
You had a tough game against Leitershofen with 5 turnovers and 4 in the first quarter. Was that first quarter one of the toughest in your career? Yeah it was tough Miles! It was definitely one of the toughest of my career, but that’s how it is some games. I wasn’t going to be sad or upset about it, just had to bounce back and do whatever I can to help the team win.
You bounced back well in Frankfurt with 8 points and 8 rebounds and scored back to back buckets at the end of the third quarter. How much to heart are you taking efficiency when you’re playing less minutes?
Yeah Miles this season has been totally different than last year in all aspects, so I’m just adapting and making the most out of the situation. Whether I play 30 minutes or I play 10 minutes, I’m just trying to go out there and make an impact on the game. With the main goal being, help us get the W.
What is your biggest personal goal now in the last games besides giving all you have for the team?
From a team perspective, to get us into the playoffs and make a playoff run! For me personally, to end the season playing my best basketball.
Were the Dallas Mavericks jinxed this season? Dante Exum is out with a broken hand. They currently only have 8 players. How crazy is that?
Yeah that’s crazy Miles, that’s the basketball Gods punishing them for trading Luka. They shouldn’t have done that, but being a Laker fan I appreciate it lol.
Moritz Schneider (191-PG-1999) is a 25 year old 191cm point guard that is playing his third season with the BSW Sixers Sandersdorf (Pro B). He began his basketball career with VFB Giessen and then played with Science City Jena playing JBBL, NBBL and for the Regionalliga team. He played 2 BBL and 2 Pro A games with Jena. He then played with Iserlohn (Pro B) from 2019-2022. He spoke to germanhoops.com after the historic loss to Leverkusen with only 5 players.
Thanks Moritz for talking to germanhoops.com. The BSW Sixers suffered a tough 108-57 loss to Leverkusen. This was a historic game as only 5 players played. How did this loss feel different than a regular loss when you have a full team?
It was tough playing with only 5 players against the #1 team in the league. We had never played together before and knew that we had no chance. We just wanted to play and not get injured and everyone get their chance in the game. We were glad at the end that the game was over. Leverkusen were very professional. Players came to me and said “ sorry this wasn´t your fault. Our 600 fans were amazing.
How did you prepare for the game. You knew on Friday that there would only be 5 players available? Did you do something different mentally or physically?
I went into the game knowing that I had to play. If we hadn´t played this game, the club would have gotten a big penalty. It is sad that we had to play with 5 guys. I think that if we would have had a full team, we could of won.
You had never been in a situation like this in your career where you would play so much. How tough was it starting the game knowing you won´t get a break? Did you have to find a routine how to conserve your energy? Our warm up was shorter than usual to conserve energy. We began 30 minutes before the game. Coach made it clear that he would call a timeout at the 5 minute mark of every quarter as well as focusing on tactical fouls.
What was the defensive game plan from coach? You couldn´t not just not play defense, but on the other hand couldn´t be over aggressive either in the fear of getting fouls. We wanted to play a lot of zone to conserve energy. They also hadn´t shot so well in the last game. We figured maybe we could frustrate them. They shot well against our zone. Our young guys simply didn´t have the experience of a Donte Nicholas.
Was the feeling going in that you would lose the game anyway? What was it like playing as hard as you could, but knowing the chances to win were as good as 0?
You go into every game to play hard. Our focus was not to concentrate on the score, but on positive things that happened in the game. We wanted to stay positive and not sink our heads.
Leverkusen led quickly 18-2 and 30-5 after one quarter. How quickly did you sense that they were there for business and not to play? I noticed in the first 5 minutes that they were the number #1 team. They hit shot after shot in the first half. They took their foot a bit off the gas pedal in the second half. They didn´t practice the full court press as much and worked on things on defense.
The BSW Sixers scored 19 points in the second quarter. What adjustments did the team make to generally play better basketball? We played better as there was less pressure. We hit more shots and our zone worked better.
The game was decided by the end of the third quarter as Leverkusen led 91-37. In the fourth quarter the Sixers actually won the quarter 20-17. How proud were you of yourself and the other 4 teammates?
I´m really proud of my teammates. We showed character and fought until the end. We stuck together and never gave up. I think that is a reason why we have been so unexpectedly successful this season.
How were you feeling in the fourth quarter? How do you explain be able to win the quarter? What was key for getting the quarter win?
They took their feet of the gas pedal. We found a flow and just played better together after gaining experience in the first 30 minutes. We hit more shots and were more successful inside as Dennis Heinzman was on the bench.
You dished out 9 assists which was a career high. How proud were you of yourself that you survived 40 minutes and didn´t foul out and gave all you could?
I´m the captain of the team. I´m not proud of myself, but my team. I´m so proud to be a part of this team. The fans support was so special. Fans hugged me after the loss.
Leverkusen were very professional and everything worked out well for everyone despite the loss. What will you always remember most from this game?
I will remember the moment when the game was over. We got a standing ovation from our fans as if we had won by 50 points. I know that I will never be a part of a game like this again in my career.
How did your body feel after 40 minutes? Was it as bad as you thought it would be or not? It was tough. I expected it to be bad and it was. But I feel better now 2 days later.
What was your favorite own assist of the day? My bounce pass at the end to Max Nwokedi for the dunk.
What did you learn about yourself after experiencing a game like this with only 5 guys?
I had never played 40 minutes before. I learned that in order to play 40 minutes, you have to be in great shape. We showed what we are capable of when we fight.
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